Suite Caroline and Reba McEntire

So the coolest thing happened to me on my last trip to Nashville.  I had a performance at the Bluebird Cafe. The show started and IN WALKS REBA MCENTIRE!!!  Ya know, only the Queen of Country Music.  She came over and talked to me, watched my show, and then talked to me afterwards about my songs, telling me which ones she liked best, and giving me advice.  It was like an out of body experience.  Did that really happen to me?? She was the nicest person and could have just blended into the crowd if she wasn’t REBA.  She was so soft spoken, even though she is usually larger than life when she hosts awards shows and plays concerts!!  This was definitely one of the highlights of my career so far.

Suite Caroline playing in Nashville at the Bluebird Cafe.

GTE Federal Credit Union Courtesy Pay

Know your options when it comes to overdrafts.

Big changes are happening in the financial world. You may have heard about the Consumer Protection Act and the changes the Federal Reserve is making in regards to overdrafts for example.

Why should you care? I’d like to start off with a story first…

Let’s say you are driving in Wimauma, Florida and happen to swerve your vehicle to avoid a tortoise in the road and you happen to hit a tree. Well, to have the tow truck come out and then get your car fixed so you can drive home, well that may be $400, money you may not have in your checking or savings account right then. Moreover, you left your credit cards at home! If you have not opted-in to your financial institutions program, you will no longer be able to take out more money than you have in your account, leaving you stranded in Wimauma. Your ATM and debit withdrawals will be denied.

It used to be that if you wanted to buy something that exceeded the available funds in your account, a financial institution could automatically allow a transaction to go through, to overdraft your account. So, if you wanted to buy a $5 coffee, but only had $2 in your account, the purchase would still clear, and you would be charged a fee. Fees, especially at some of the larger banks, have now been deemed excessive. Another complaint was that consumers were not adequately alerted when they overdrew their account and could incur numerous overdrafts that carried increasing fees.

As of August 1, 2010, all financial institutions are required by new Federal Regulation E to get approval, via opting-in, from their customers before an overdraft transaction can be processed. Unlike previous overdrafts, account-holders will only be charged a one-time fee upon overdrafting using an ATM or debit card. However, some banks, like Bank of America, are not giving their customers a chance to opt-in; they are denying any debit purchase or ATM withdrawal, regardless of whether or not the customer would like to be able to overdraw their account, for example in an emergency. They are however, letting patrons link an account such as a savings account, charging $10 for an automatic transfer.

GTE Federal Credit Union recognizes that being able to make a debit purchase or ATM withdrawal, even if funds are not available right then, for a one-time fee of $29, may be of value to some members. For purchases under $5, the $29 fee does not apply. The program is called Courtesy Pay, and it has been recently improved!

(Just as a little FYI, Wells Fargo, BB&T, Fifth Third Bank and Sun Trust offer an opt-in program, some of which, charge up to $36 per overdraft transaction.)

You may be thinking…well…I NEVER WANT TO BE ABLE TO OVERDRAFT! But, remember the Wimauma story.

At GTE Federal Credit Union, it costs nothing to opt-in for Courtesy Pay. It’s 100% free. So, even though ideally, you never want to overdraw your account…YOU CAN IF YOU NEED TO!

Before you decide, read GTE Federal Credit Union’s handy-dandy web site further describing Courtesy Pay. May not be the most exciting thing you’ve ever read, but it may help you avoid getting stranded in Wimauma – or at least, help you make an informed decision!!!

Courtesy Pay – https://www.gtefcu.org/CourtesyPay/CourtesyPay.aspx

Courtesy Pay FAQ – https://www.gtefcu.org/CourtesyPay/CourtesyPay.aspx

Opt-in Today – https://cuathome.gtefcu.org/default.aspx?ptp=odo

This is a great article we used for some inspiration!

Big things are happening with me and GTE Federal Credit Union! I love being a spokesperson for the U22 Account!

First,
the new Suite Caroline U22 Debit Mastercard is out and I tested mine out at the mall today! My little sis is turning 11 soon, so I wanted to get her a crystal. She collects Swarovski crystals. I got her a little duck. She’s gonna love it! The cashier told me how cool she thought my card was, and I told her I agree. Of course, I felt a little awkward saying it was the Suite Caroline card, so I just smiled. She said she had never seen a card decorated so cute! She said it made her happy just to look at it. I smiled again. “Me too,” I said.

Second,
I will be singing the National Anthem at the Rays v. NY Game at Tropicana Field on July 31, 2010, and for me, that is going to be a really big deal! The game is supposed to be sold out and that means thousands of people! oooooo! I prepare differently to play the anthem than I do for other shows, because it is such a song of reverence. Not only that, but everyone knows it so well. The pressure is really on not to mess up. Plus, the whole place goes quiet for it, for a little added pressure. I hope you come to the game, and that you get to your seat early.

I will try and do a good job!

Lastly,
Make sure to enter the U22 Takes Over the Trop Contest and you could watch the game and hear my National Anthem rendition for FREE.

This is your BIG CHANCE to get involved in the big time!! If you are between the ages of 12-22 (like me) you can enter to fill one of four VVEERRYY cool positions:

1. You could be the junior bat boy/girl for the game (just don’t stand too close to home plate .. u know why!)
2. You could throw out the ceremonial first pitch (notice how we have to say ceremonial, so you realize that you are not actually pitching to the first professional batter up in the game LOL)
3. You could be the junior announcer, and help call all the action as it happens (this one would be good for my cousin Danny, because he knows A LOT about the team)
4. And this one may be my fave … you can sing during the 7th inning stretch!!!Oh, and I bet now u are wondering how to enter….

All you have to do is submit a video or photo at http://www.u224u.com/get-in-the-game before July 14th. Good Luck!!!!

Hey everybody!!

I really love a good old fashion baseball game. The beautiful stadiums with an entire field of the greenest grass and best dirt you’ll ever see. It just makes you wanna jump on the field and frolic in the dirt like a kid again. The aroma of mouthwatering hot dogs and toasted peanuts tickling your nose until you can’t resist yelling the words, “HEY, HOT DOG GUY!! TOSS ONE OVER HERE!!” And did I mention the atmosphere? Oh well it’s to die for, really, I mean imagine being surrounded by hundreds of like-minded people all cheering together in celebration, after your favorite player hits another homerun. And being able to sing and dance along to your favorite song that’s being played over the loud speakers, without fear of ridicule and shame!! Ok, well maybe a little ridiculous, but still baseball games are great.

Did I mention GTE Federal Credit Union has been reading my mind lately?

If you are a baseball enthusiast too, you should checkout www.U224U.com, U22 Takes Over the Trop. Four 12 to 22 year olds will be selected to fill exclusive roles in the Rays versus New York game on July 31st! Can you believe it? It doesn’t get any better than that! Rivals, playing at home, in a sell out game, and you could be right in the thick of it. The winners will also receive 4 FREE tickets to the game. Whoa!

Here’s what ya do:

* Grab a parent and go online at www.U224U.com
* Register for the contest and submit a video or photo – depending on what position you want to fill
* GTE Federal Credit Union will select their favorite entry for each category

Also, open a U22 Account at GTE Federal Credit Union before July 14, 2010 and you could meet a Rays player before the July 31st game! Complete an entry form at a branch. We will select 1 winner from the pool of collected entry forms. See www.U224U.com for details.

So, if you’re looking for something to do this Summer, go online and order some tickets to see a Rays game at Tropicana Field. They are doing really well this year, and they need our support!! And with tickets as cheap as 15 dollars, we can still keep saving up for our dream cars. So remember to use your U22 card to buy the ticket, and who knows, maybe I’ll see you there!!

PS – Vote for Evan Longoria, U22 Spokesperson, in the MLB All-Star Race!

I’M A DEBIT CARD! I’M A DEBIT CARD! Well you may think I meant to say that I HAVE a debit card. But nope, I meant to say that I am one!

GTE Federal Credit Union’s U22 Account now has a Suite Caroline U22 card and if you have ever seen my website or my myspace then you will know what this card looks like. It has pretty colors and peace signs and flowers. Totally love it!! If you already have a U22 Account just tell your branch you want to get the new Suite Caroline card and they will handle it. Or you can call the awesome people at member services 888.871.2690 x 40401. Or if you don’t have a U22 Account, now is a great time to become a member of GTE Federal Credit Union so you can get the cool design! Check it out!!!

The U22 Account is for 12 to 22 year olds! Learn more about how you can become a member. Click Here

I went to my branch today and asked them to order mine and they said it would arrive in the mail in about a week!! Can’t wait hope you like it too!!

I had the best day today! I got to play a concert at the new GTE Federal Credit Union branch in St. Petersburg, FL. It is such a pretty new building!! It is across the street from Perkins Elementary School. I played a concert as a reward to some of the classes for their hard work on the FCAT. They could just walk across the street from the school, and GTE Federal Credit Union is right there! I got to tell them about the U22 checking account. Some of the kids were 12, so they were old enough to sign up for one. The kids even had signs asking me to sing some of my songs that they like. I played about 6 songs, and then I did a question and answer session. After that, I signed autographs and the funniest thing happened!! A mom asked me to sign her BABY! I’ve never been asked that before!! I signed on her onesie!! She was soooo sweet!!!! (Jennifer-My mom will send you a pic of that and maybe one of the concert too) The branch manager even had cake for all of us. It was so cool to see how GTE Federal Credit Union is more than a credit union to that community. The branch manager also invited some St. Petersburg officials and some parents and grandparents to attend the show. Everyone had a great time (especially me!) and I thank both GTE Federal Credit Union and Perkins Elementary School!! You really made me feel special!!

I to I. Peer to Peer. Good Advice for College Freshman.
This week, I decided to sit back and let the college seniors do the talking!

There’s no doubt it’s tough for incoming college freshmen to avoid the temptations of campus life – new quarters, new rules and the new found freedom of being away from home! It’s an exciting time in their lives that requires some restraint to avoid getting off to a very bad start.

The first temptation is the evil credit card. Sure it looks cool with your own design and your name gleaming on it. But be wary. While new reform limits credit card companies’ from issuing credit to 18-20 year olds, many freshman still have access to credit cards. They want, they buy and they owe with a plan to pay off balances when they graduate. What they may not realize is that carrying balances and paying the minimum monthly throughout these four years is both costly and affects their credit score. Plus, if you don’t land that job with the dream income right away, how will you pay the bills?

The second temptation will be peers. College students come from all walks of life. There are ‘haves’ with seemingly limitless spending and ‘have-somes’ which makes up the majority. [There are also ‘hads’ which are those who caved into the pressure and are deeply in debt].

Life costs money, it’s a cruel reality so budgeting is key.

Some tips from college seniors to incoming freshmen, “Be smart and get creative.”
• Buy your clothes at home, not at college. The prices are typically higher in college towns.
• Get in the habit of setting money aside for savings and major purchases so you don’t rely on a credit card.
• Go with the school meal plans. There are lots of choices and the cafeterias have the best prices in town.
• Go in on purchases with friends. This is great for dining out or buying necessities in bulk.
• Check out the fees at the ATMs and keep your usage at a minimum.
• Utilize online banking to avoid overdrawing your account. That $35 average overdraft fee can add up and it will show up on your financial record.
• Don’t hang out with big spenders. The pressure to spend is too much for many.
• Plan for the unexpected, because something will happen that costs you money, [you know… like a speeding ticket or going over your cell phone minutes].

Fortunately GTE-FCU’s U22 account offers free online bill pay, email balance alerts, and mobile phone account access, plus once-a-month forgiveness for a debit card overdraft, their free personal financial management program AND you can earn points on your debit card to get cool stuff!

Recently, I have been working on a play called Eurydice. It is the re-telling of an old Greek play of the same name. It’s a very interesting play about love, loss and adventure. I play Little Stone who is one of three stones that live in the Underworld. The stones are weird creatures that love to tease and play with Eurydice as she struggles to regain her memory and leave the Underworld. We’ve all been working really hard on this play and it has been a lot of fun to work on. Everyone should come check it out! It opens May 14th at 8pm, and runs every Thursday to Sunday through May 31st. It’s at the Shimberg Playhouse in Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. I hope everyone comes out to see it and if you do come remember to use your GTE Federal Credit Union U22 account to buy the tickets!

Hey Ya’ll,

Alex here! Well it’s that time again – Final Exams. For us students, this can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Why? These exams are usually worth a HUGE percentage of our total grade and will make or break our overall success in the class – eh, no pressure. Every semester it’s the same thing, sweaty palms, restless nights, and stomachaches. What’s worse is that because we get so stressed out our immune system is weakened and we get sick, and if the stress is bad enough, it could lead to ulcers. Getting sick means spending money on medicine or taking time off of work, and we broke college students can’t afford that. So this semester I’ve come up with some things to help me avoid most of the stress. Hopefully, it will help you save some energy, time, and money.

1. NO PROCRASTINATION!!!
This is a big one for me because I love waiting until the last minute. But if I can just study a little bit each day ahead of time, I can avoid the ulcers.

2. Get plenty of sleep
A big reason why we get sick is because of lack of good sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep really does help you focus better. And, I don’t know if you’ve checked out the prices on over-the-counter medicines for cold symptoms lately – but whoa!

Cold Medicine – $5.49
Nasal Decongestant – $8.49
Cough Drops – $1.99
“Decent” Tissues – $2.29
Gotta have Chicken Noodle – $1.59
Grand total = $19.85 + tax
A cold could cost you like $20.00 – That’s almost 2+ hours of work!
ps – got my pricing from www.walgreens.com

3. Make sacrifices
This is another big one. I love to hang out with friends, party, and all that fun stuff, but my grades will suffer if I don’t sacrifice a few parties for studying.

4. Eat breakfast!
This might sound like a stupid one, but you’d be surprised what a good hearty breakfast will do for your body and mind. Toast, cereal, waffles, eggs – these are all pretty inexpensive.

5. Prepare the night before
I can’t recall how many times I woke up to go to an exam and I couldn’t find anything I needed. I’ve been late to tests because I couldn’t find my calculator or keys.

Good luck to my fellow hard-working students!!! May good grades and good habits be in your future!

Summer is fast approaching! Thus . . . the teenager/parent Summer job debate is right around the corner.

My teens look forward to this time of year when they break away from the day-to-day routine of school, homework and rules just to sit back, relax, play video games and hang out with their friends.

While they look forward to this time of year, I am desperately seeking ways to occupy their time: summer jobs, chores, camps, responsible recreation. Let’s face it, teens are expensive and, at times, challenging. This year, I’ve decided it’s time for them to be responsible, contribute to their own wants and build their savings account. So I did some research and have compiled a list of the top 10 reasons for teens to work in the summer.

1. They gain a better understanding of what life costs. Parents have rules when it comes to opening their wallets. Therefore, when teens start to work for their money, a sense of controlled freedom sets in. The result? Teens place a higher value on ‘their’ money and become more selective ‘spenders.’

2. They can start learning how to budget and save their money. Teens love money just as much as they love to spend it. Create a ‘matching dollars’ reward system and your teens are on the road to understand saving vs. spending.

3. They’re more likely to keep out of trouble. They can’t loiter, text, IM, surf the web, etc. when they’re working. Bottom line.

4. Working teens save parents money. Teens that work become more independent by nature. Therefore, as your teens stop asking for movie money, you can consider depositing those dollars into their college or after-college savings accounts.

5. They’ll gain real life experiences in dealing with other adults. The boss, customers and co-workers are far less forgiving than parents. That’s life. Better that they learn it now rather than later when they’re on their own.

Check back in for the remaining Great Reasons for Teens to Get a Summer Job.